Summary ⁶

Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) is a winter annual grass native to Europe and Asia. It can grow to heights of 6 to 24 inches. Stems are wiry and slender containing a few short leaves. The leaf blades are narrow and rolled in the stalk. The yellowish-green sheen of dense stands is highly visible after other annual grasses turn brown. The flower is a spike with long twisted awns. It has a fibrous root system that is quickly developed allowing it to extract soil moisture deep in the soil profile before most perennials. The seed longevity for Medusahead is at least two years. The site must be monitored for at least four years after the last flowering adult plants have been eliminated and treatments repeated when necessary.

Source:
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/agconservation/medusahead-rye
http://www.cwma.org/Medusahead.html

Identification ⁶

Height: 6-24 inches
Shape: Grass
Flowers: Inflorescene is 1-4 inches long with awns that are long, stiff and twisted when mature. Seed-heads persist after seeds disperse
Stems: Stems are wiry and slender containing a few short leaves. Reddish with small hairs
Leaves: Leaf blades are narrow and rolled in the stalk. 1/8 inch wide
Toxic: No, but contain silica and can cause puncture wounds.
Root: Fibrous root system that is quickly developed allowing it to extract soil moisture deep in the soil profile before most perennials.

Other: Can be easily confused with foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum) or Bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides)

Source:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g8JXtwmtFrolq8clyAtCS25A53ndtEkb/view
http://www.cwma.org/Medusahead.html

Origins / Habitats ⁶

Medusahead is native to Europe. Habitats for medusahead include disturbed sites and grasslands. It grows best on clay soils where deep soil moisture is available late in the season. Medusahead infestations displace native vegetation and can greatly reduce carrying capacity of rangelands for domestic livestock of up to 75%. The barbs or awns on the seed head can cause puncture wounds to grazing animals, as well as cling to the feet and fur of animals or hikers socks.

Sources:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g8JXtwmtFrolq8clyAtCS25A53ndtEkb/view
http://www.cwma.org/Medusahead.html

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Paul G. Johnson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by Paul G. Johnson
2. (c) Damon Tighe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Damon Tighe
3. (c) Elliot Gunnison, some rights reserved (CC BY-ND), uploaded by Elliot Gunnison
4. (c) "<a href=""http://nt.ars-grin.gov/"">ARS Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory</a>. Afghanistan.", some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=taca8_001_ahp.tif
5. (c) Vince Scheidt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Vince Scheidt
6. (c) Colorado Parks and Wildlife, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

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